Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has defended his government’s decision to criminalize homosexuality, rejected accusations that he has betrayed his former political ally Ousmane Sonko, and declined to rule out dissolving the National Assembly.
In an interview with RFI and France 24, Faye said Senegal expected the same respect for its sovereignty that African countries had shown towards Western states that legalized same-sex marriage.
The president was responding to criticism from what the interviewers described as the international community over the law he promulgated on March 31, which strengthened Senegal’s criminal legislation relating to homosexuality.
“Of what international community are you speaking?” Faye asked when questioned about the criticism.
He pointed to countries such as France and the United Nations, arguing that Senegal had respected the sovereign legislative choices of countries where same-sex marriage had been legalized.
“When they legalized same-sex marriage, we were very shocked, but did we react?” he said. “We considered that these are sovereign countries that made their legislative choices, and we respected them. We ask for the same.”
Asked whether he supported an option previously raised by Sonko to further toughen the legislation if necessary, Faye did not directly address that proposal.
Faye Rejects ‘Betrayal’ Accusations
The president also responded to accusations from some members of his former party, Pastef, that he had betrayed the political project he shared with Sonko and had become too accommodating towards the International Monetary Fund.
Faye said the only commitment he could betray was the oath he took when he became president.
“In terms of betrayal, the only thing I am likely to betray is the oath I took on April 2, 2024, before the Senegalese people and before God,” he said.
He said his constitutional responsibilities took precedence over other political considerations and argued that the government, parliament, and other institutions each had their own responsibilities.
Faye said the government would continue to defend its financial legislation before parliament, while legislators would have to decide how they would respond.
He appealed to lawmakers to act in what he described as the patriotic interest of the Senegalese people, particularly given the economic difficulties facing the country.
President Keeps Dissolution Option Open
With Pastef holding a large majority in the National Assembly, Faye was asked whether he feared parliament could reject the government’s supplementary finance bill.
The president said institutions must assume their respective responsibilities and that the Senegalese people would ultimately judge their conduct.
Asked directly whether he could dissolve the National Assembly, Faye declined to exclude the possibility.
“Why exclude a prerogative with which one is invested by the Constitution?” he asked.
He said any decision would depend on the circumstances and the necessity at the time.
“When the time comes, depending on what we have before us, we will decide,” Faye said.
He added that his administration’s guiding principle would be “the supreme interest of the Senegalese people” and ensuring that Senegal’s institutions function without blockage.
The remarks leave open the possibility of a confrontation between the presidency and the Pastef-dominated parliament if lawmakers reject key government legislation.
Faye also defended his support for former President Macky Sall’s bid for a senior international position, arguing that Sall’s candidacy should not be dismissed and that Africa’s under-representation in global institutions justified Senegal’s support for an African candidate.
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